http://mumbaicyclothon.com/ had different race categories, but the only one I was eligible for was the 24km ride (sorta the biking equivalent of the dream run), I was not really keen on participating in this 24km ride as I had just completed a 200km BRM a couple of weeks before this event. The sea link ride made it all worthwhile (inspite of the 24km distance) and I was really looking forward to the event.
The 24k ride started very well and I really enjoyed riding my bike at 30km plus, on the streets of Bandra (without any vehicular traffic), reminded me of the first time I watch Tour de France on TV and used to marvel at the way those riders rode so close to one another without ever bumping into one another and having crowds (locals) line up on both sides. This bike ride through Bandra during the cyclothon recreated that experience for me. This experience was bigger than what I experienced running or cycling on the Bandra Worli Sea link.
The flat tyre only added to my memorable experience, it will ensure that I remember this for a long long time. Not many people understood why I was running with my bike, wouldn't it be more sensible to just hop onto the support vehicle and return to safety. I have never understood how people can give up on anything, even if it looks/sounds impossible, isn't it the obvious thing to do - to just go and get what you have aimed for, irrespective the variables (internal and external) thrown at you? I have always finished any race that I have started and even those I have not been able to finish (like my 2nd Bangalore Ultra) due to time limits, I have tried to do it till the very last minute.
I hope next year the cyclathon organised have atleast a 50k bike ride for regular cyclists.
this is the nasty nail which gave me a lot of grief
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4 comments:
Wow! GM, I mean it when I say this: You are simply brilliant... And I love what you said about not giving up on what you set out to achieve. I'm putting you on my list :P
Hey Thanks J. Really appreciate it, super motivation for me to be more regular with my blog.
Quite impressed by the fact that you ran despite that flat tire! Cycling on Bandra's streets with no traffic interference sounds like such a dream :) Way to go!
@sashg Thanks.
You should join us on one of the night rides (am assuming you own a cycle, else can recommend one for you).
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